What if He had a Choice?

Tom could not very well just have the boy use the killing curse randomly. It was one thing to be able to get him to perform an imperius or a cruciatus curse, but killing curses took a bit more time, a bit more finesse. As much as he enjoyed Draco's enthusiasm, he doubted that it was the wisest thing to just be showing him how to use the killing curse. Furthermore, Tom did not want anything to accidently backfire and poof, there goes his ally. That would...definitely not be a good plan for him to follow through with, so instead he started with other dark spells. He did know quite a bit, and even without his memories from past sixteen he was not horribly stupid. He knew many dark spells before then, as he had been researching them for quite some time. He had even manage to accumulate quite a large amount of knowledge from the restricted section considering he was a teacher's favorite, barring Dumbledore of course. Teaching the young tyke a few lower class dark spells was not that difficult.

It would seem, as it was with Abraxas, Draco had quite the affinity for the dark arts. Not that it was all that surprising. The boy excelled, and he did quite well in all manner of dark spells, curses, even hexes and jinxs. Tom had made sure to do a very thorough testing before he began to teach him more spells. The reality was that Draco took to the dark arts quite well, and he was quite capable. That with all that hidden anger and frustration, all that hidden hatred, which Tom was still uncertain as to why it was that he would have seemed to have somewhat glossed over, how he had been unable to see it confused him but he was sure he would find the answer soon enough, Draco took to many of the darker spells quite easily. His magical skill and prowess alone was astounding. Tom found that he quite enjoyed training the boy.

Which was why the sudden revelation of a hogwarts letter addressed to both himself and to Draco surprised him. Typically he did not loose track of time so easily, but he had not expected a month to go by so swiftly either. With cultivating his bond with Draco, and training the boy extensively he had not expected the time to fly by so fast. He had made ample preperations, and then dealing with Lucius' handlings of his own affairs as well, time sort of...got away from him. Already it was a month later, and he had a hogwarts letter in his hand. An acceptance letter, with the proceeding necessary items that he was expected to acquire. Whereas he was swiftly going into the 6th year, Draco would be going into his third year. There was quite a large difference in their materials, but Tom expected that. He would not be able to talk with Draco as much, which would be problematic slightly, but either way, he had managed to worm his way into the other's eyes as a person who was not to be trifled with.

it was somewhat interesting, the amount of loyalty that Tom had managed to gain from Draco simply by teaching him more about the Dark Arts, a conversation that he still had yet to talk to Lucius about, but he would talk to Lucius about such things soon, it would not do for him to be...lacking, in that regard. Draco was extremely adept at it as well so his father's refusal to teach him struck Tom as quite odd, and...well he was not one to let that sort of thing go.

"It would seem they got some new person to take over Transfiguration." Draco muttered, thumbing the book that was far different from what they typically used for transfiguration. "I dunno how you managed it," Draco said, taking a glace from the corner of his eyes at Tom, "But you truly drove Dumbledore from the school."

"How do you know it is not Dumbledore that is the new teacher?" Tom inquired. Draco just rolled his eyes.

"Because, all of my friends have at least one parent on the school council. They would have informed me quite clearly if that had been the case. Furthermore, father would have been furious and likely come home screaming about it." Tom had to admit that the young boy was not wrong about either case. "Uncle Sev must still have failed to obtain the dark arts position that he wanted." He tsked slowly shaking his head.

"Ah, yes, I cannot wait to meet this...uncle of yours." Draco looked over at Tom and smiled.

"Uncle Sev is amazing. He is my godfather, and one of my father's closer friends. Also very loyal to the dark side. He likes to pretend that he isn't, especially with Dumbledore around, but really he resents Dumbledore."

"Why is that?"

"Because," Draco began before stopped, opening and closing his mouth suddenly realizing he was about to say something he probably should not. Tom drummed his fingers on the table impatiently.

"Well?"

"You...You won't tell him I said this right?" Tom shook his head silently, still prompting the other to speak. "Well, Uncle Sev really liked this one girl, and you...your older self, was going to murder her, and the whole family but he did not really care for the others, just her. He tried to talk yo...ur older self out of it, but, no offense, but you were kind of...insane, at that point. either way, he struck a deal with Dumbledore to protect this girl he liked, but Dumbledore failed. However, despite that break in contract he had at the woman's death, he still stuck around Dumbledore. Some say it is because your older self had said to keep an eye on him, some say there are other reasons. Uncle Sev cannot stand the man, but he isn't stupid. Dumbledore uses him as a tool, but he pities him as well. Gives him a job, and a decent allowance. Not many people are as lucky to find such a position. Uncle Sev is using dumbledore just as dumbledore is using him. Old fool just doesn't notice it. He sort of blames Dumbledore for the death of the girl."

Tom took in this load of information with blinking eyes, just staring.

"And how...exactly...did you find all of this out?"

"I'm nosy, sneaky, and really it isn't all that hard. Dumbledore has next to no idea what it means to be quiet. Not to mention it really was not all that hard to put together after a few 'childhood' stories Uncle used to tell a lot." Draco admitted.

"And you are sure he is devoted?" Tm questioned,

"Definitely,"